Double pivoting tare bucket sampling apparatus



March 19, 1968 .J M. SILVER ET AL 3,373,615

DOUBLE PIVOTING TARE BUCKET SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1966 A 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: JOSEPH M. SILVER HARRY LANE BY MALLINCKRODT 8| MALLINCKRODT BUQWM AT TORNE YS March 19, 1968 J. M. SILVER ET AL DOUBLE PIVOTING TARE BUCKET SAMPLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 21, 1966 INVENTORS: JOSEPH M. SILVER N O R K C W M M a Y T m R AK m U L A M V1 B ATTORNEYS March 1968 .1. M. SILVER ET AL 3,373, 5

CKET SAMPLING APPARATUS DOUBLE PIVOTING TARE EU 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21, 1966 slLvE'R HARRY LANE BY MALLINCKRODT 8 MALLINCKRODT INVENTORS ATTORNEYS March 19, 1968 Filed Feb. 21, 1966 F/G. a

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J. M. SILVER ET AL DOUBLE PIVOTING TARE BUCKET SAMPLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/ G /O.

INVENTORS= JOSEPH M. SILVER HARRY LANE ATTORNEYS United States ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for periodically taking samples from a flowing stream of material, for example, a tare sample from a flowing stream of sugar beets, by moving a sampling receptacle such as a tare bucket through the flowing stream from one side to the other side and returning it to its starting point for repeat sampling. The apparatus is characterized by an arm mounted for oscillation about a fixed pivot axis and by a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm for rotation. The second arm carries the sampling receptacle, and drive means are provided for rotating the second arm completely around its pivotal connection with the first arm. Thus, as the first arm oscillates, the second arm carries the sampling receptacle through a complete circle, during at least a part of an oscillation of the first arm, enabling the sampling to be carried out within a minimum amount of space.

In the co-pending application of James W. Silver, seph M. Silver, and Harry Lane, for US. Patent No. 425,416, filed January 14, 1965, there is disclosed an apparatus including a tare bucket for obtaining samples of harvested beets dumped onto and screened by a beet piler. The apparatus disclosed in that application is particularly useful for lifting the samples so that they can be temporarily stored in an out of the way location in a storage house positioned on top of the piler. However, it is not always desirable to provide for such temporary storage. In some instances it is preferable to bag the sample and load it onto a truck for immediate transfer to a laboratory where the tare, i.e. foreign matter such as adherent soil, sticks, stones and other trash, is removed, the cleaned beets are weighed, and, sometimes the sugar content of the sampled beets is determined, so that a reasonably accurate sugar content of the beets represented by the sample can be calculated.

In such instances it is no longer necessary to raise the tare bucket to the elevation of a storage house in the manner described in our aforementioned application for patent, but, instead, the bucket is discharged at the side of the beet piler into bags provided for the purpose.

In order to obtain a truly representative sample, the tare bucket must be moved well into the fiow stream of beets. In the past, samplers used for the purpose have generally had a tare bucket mounted on the end of a long arm that is rotated to move the bucket into the flow path, but that requires a large unobstructed area in which to swing, and a reversible motor that will arc the arm to drive the bucket into a flow stream and then swing it back to a dumping area.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tare bucket that is mounted such that it will be swung in relatively small area through a continuous, non-reversing path into and out of the path of the flow stream of beets, Without swinging a full circle and without a reversible motor. It is also an object to provide such a bucket that can be easily emptied into a sample bag.

Outstanding features of the present invention are a first arm, pivotally mounted to a fixed pivot connection at one of its ends and carrying a second arm pivotally conatetit nected to its free end, the second arm having an easily dumped bucket at its free end. Through special drive means, a single non-reversing motor oscillates the first arm about its fixed pivot connection while simultaneously pivoting the second arm about its pivot connection with the first arm. Special latch means normally holds the bucket in an upright sampling position, but is easily released to allow the bucket to be tilted to a dumping position.

There is shown in the accompanying drawings a specific embodiment of the invention representing what is presently regarded as the best mode of carrying out the generic concepts in actual practice. From the detailed description of this presently preferred form of the invention, other more specific objects and features will become apparent.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the double pivoted tare bucket of the invention, with the beet-piler to which it is attached shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 2, a side elevation view of the bucket of FIG. 1,

1 drawn to a reduced scale and with the beet-piler shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 3, an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4,- a similar view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view of the bucket and its latching and operating mechanism, taken from the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6, an enlarged and fragmentary vertical section through the bucket and its latching and operating mechanism, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7, a view like that of FIG. 5, but with the bucket after it has been dumped;

FIG. 8, a view like FIG. 1, but drawn to a smaller scale and showing the bucket in its dump position;

FIG. 9, a view like FIG. 8, but showing the bucket as it is moved from the dumping to the filling positions; and

FIG. 10, a similar view showing the bucket in its filling position.

Referring now to the drawings:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the tare bucket 10 is mounted on a beet piler, shown generally at 11. A non-reversing motor 12 acts through a first pivot arm 13 and a second pivot arm, shown generally at 14, to swing the bucket into and out of a stream of beets as they are discharged from screening assembly 15 onto conveyor 16 of the beet piler. I

The first pivot arm is journaled around the pivot shaft 17 that has first and second sprockets 18 and 19, FIG. 3, respectively, fixed thereto, and the pivot shaft is journaled through a support 20 fixed to an upright post 21 of the beet piler by brackets 22, FIG. 1.

A chain 23 interconnects a sprocket 24 fixed to, and driven by, motor 12 and the sprocket 18, such that operation of the motor will rotate the pivot shaft 17. This rotates sprocket 19 and, through a chain 25, FIG. 3, a sprocket 26 that is fixed to the second pivot arm 14.

Pivot shaft 17 also carries a plate 27 to which a linkage arm 28 is eccentrically connected by means of a pivot pin 29. The other end of the linkage arm is pivotally connected at 30 to a crank arm 31 that is fixed to a jack shaft 32. The distance from the center axis of pivot shaft 17 to pivot pin 29 is less than the distance from the center axis of jack shaft 32 to pivot connection 30 so that rotation of the pivot shaft and plate 27 will result in an oscillation of jack shaft 32 and a sprocket 33 fixed thereto. This oscillatory motion is transmitted to the first pivot arm through a chain 34 that passes around sprocket 33 and a sprocket 35 encircling pivot shaft 17 fixed to the first pivot arm.

The jack shaft is preferably'supported by and journaled through a housing 36 that is welded, or otherwise at- 3 tached, to the housing of the pivot shaft by a bracket 37.

The single non-reversing motor 12 will rotate pivot shaft 17 and, through sprocket 19, chain and sprocket 26, the second pivot arm 14, while at the same time the first pivot arm 13 is being oscillated through plate 27, linkage arm 28, crank arm 31, jack shaft 32, sprocket 33, chain 34 and sprocket 35.

Pivot arm 14 is constructed to support the tare bucket 10 and to include apparatus for dumping the contents of the bucket into a bag or other receptacle provided for the purpose' Thus, arm 14 includes a pair of side members 38 and 39 that are rigidly interconnected by a channel member 40. Stub shafts 43 and 44, at opposite sides of the bucket, are fitted inside bushings 45 and 46, respectively, and the bearings are positioned in recesses 47 and 48 formed in side members 38 and 39. A collar 49 fits over bearing 45 and across recess 47. Bolts 50 hold the collar in place to prevent the bearings sliding out of their recesses. The stub shafts thus provide a pivot axis for the bucket.

A link 51 is fixed to stub shaft 43 and is pivotally connected to an ear 52 depending from one end of a push rod 53. The push rod is pivotally connected at its other end to one end of a bifurcated crank arm 54 that is fixed at its other end to a rod 55. Rod 55 is journaled through brackets 56 and 57 that protrude from side member 38 and channel member 40, respectively, and a handle 58 is fixed thereto.

A downward pull on handle 58 will rotate rod 55, thereby pivoting crank arm 54 and moving push rod 53 longitudinally. This rotates link 51 to dump the tare bucket 10. The push rod raises slightly and then drops as link 51 is rotated. In dropping, it hits the top flange of channel member 40 which acts as a safety stop to limit the tipping of the bucket. Lugs 59 on the sides of the bucket engage angles 60 at the lower edge of each of the side members 38 and 39 to also limit the degree of tipping of the bucket.

To prevent undesired pivoting of the bucket, lock means, including a latch plate 62 is provided. The latch plate is fixed to a rod 63 that is journaled through brackets 64 and 57 fixed to channel member 40. A handle 66 extends out from latch plate 62 to provide a means for easily pivoting the plate, and the plate is formed with a cam surface having an upper curved portion 62a and a lower curved portion 62b.

When the bucket is in its upright or receiving position, handle 58 will be held in its uppermost position by a cam follower in the form of a roller 67, that is carried by the handle, and that rests on the upper curved portion 62a. At the same time, a pair of notches 68, FIG. 3, in plates 69, FIGS. 1 and 3, that extend rearwardly from bucket 10 are fitted over rods 70 at the ends of arms 71 that reciprocate through an opening provided therefore in channel 40. With the arms 71 so positioned, the bucket is further held in its upright position.

When handle 66 is used to pivot the latch plate clockwise the upper curved portion 62a is moved from beneath roller 67 and handle 58 can then be operated to pivot the bucket counter-clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2. At the same time cranks 72 fixed to the same rod 63 on which latch plate 62 is fixed are rotated to reciprocate arms 71 and thereby pull rods 70 from the notches 68. The bucket is then free to be pivoted. When the bucket has been tipped its maximum amount, as governed by the push rod 53 and the lugs 59 that act as limit stops, the roller 67 will be engaged by the lower curved portion 62b of the cam surface upon release of latch plate 62. After the sampling bucket 10 has been emptied it is raised by rotating handle 58 clockwise. During this movement the roller 67 rides up the lower curved portion 62b and the latch plate swings under the force of gravity until the roller ,67 is again on the upper curved portion 62a and the bucket is locked in its receiving position.

The pivot connection between the first and second pivot arms 13 and 14 comprises a spindle 73 to which the sprocket 26 is fixed. The spindle is journaled at its upper end through the free end of the first pivot arm 13 and at its lower end through a support arm 74. Intermediate its length spindle 73 is pinned to a sleeve 75 that is fixed by Welding, or other means, to channel member 40.

Support arm 74 preferably has two legs 74a and 74b that are journaled for rotation on a pivot pin 76 that is held in alignment with the pivot shaft 17 by a bracket 77 fixed to the upright post 21 of the beet piler.

When the sampling apparatus is to be used on a beet piier, it has been found generally preferable to select the size of sprockets 18, 19, 26, 33, and 35, and the lengths of the pivot arms 13 and 14, linkage arm 28 and crank arm 31 such that during one complete rotation of pivot arm 14, pivot arm 13 will oscillate one complete time. Thus, the longitudinal axes of the pivot arms will be parallel and additive, when the bucket is positioned to be dumped and when the bucket is in its extreme position in the path of beets being discharged from the screening assembly 15 of the beet piler. During the time that the bucket is being moved from its dump position of FIG. 8 through the position of FIG. 9 to the filling position of FIG. 10, the axes of the arms willnot be parallel and additive and the length of the combined arms will be considerably less than their additive length. Thus, the bucket can easily clear upright post 21 of the piler. When the bucket is returning full of beets to the dump position, the two arms remain parallel and additive. This is best seen in FIG. 10 wherein the arm 14 and bucket are shown as they are rotated clockwise, while the arm 13 has completed its oscillation in the counterclockwise direction and is moving clockwise back to the starting position shown in FIG. 8, where the bucket can be dumped.

Whereas, there is here illustrated and specifically described a certain preferred construction of apparatus which is presently regarded as the best mode of carrying out the invention, it should be undestood that various changes can be made and other constructions adopted without departing from the inventive subject matter particularly pointed out and claimed herebelow.

We claim:

1. Sampling apparatus comprising a first arm pivotally mounted at one of its ends to a fixed pivot axis;

a second arm;

means pivotally interconnecting the other end of the first arm to one end of the second arm so that the latter can rotate relative to the former;

a tare bucket carried by the other end of said second arm;

a non-reversible motor; and

means driven by said motor for oscillating said first arm about its fixed pivot axis and for simultaneously rotating said second arm completely about the means pivotally interconnecting the first and second arms.

2. Sampling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the respective pivot axes of the first and second arms are substantially parallel and the means driven by said motor oscillates the first arm and rotates the second arm such that their longitudinal axes are parallel and additive during one half oscillation of the first arm and are nonparallel during the other half oscillation of the first arm.

3. Sampling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the respective pivot axes of the first and second arms are substantially parallel and the means driven by the motor includes a sprocket fixed to the motor;

a pivot shaft journaled through the pivot axis at the one end of the first arm;

a first sprocket encircling and fixed to the pivot shaft;

a chain drivingly interconnecting the sprocket fixed to the motor and the first sprocket fixed to the pivot shaft;

a second sprocket encircling and fixed to the pivot shaft;

a sprocket fixed to the second arm and encircling the pivot axis formed by the means pivotally interconnecting the first and second arms;

a chain drivingly interconnecting the second sprocket fixed to the pivot shaft and the sprocket fixed to the second arm;

a plate fixed to the pivot shaft;

a jack shaft;

a crank arm fixed to said jack shaft;

a linkage arm having one end pivotally connected to the plate and its other arm pivotally connected to the crank arm, with the distance from the longitudinal center of the pivot shaft to the pivot connection of the linkage arm with the plate being less than the distance from the longitudinal center of the jack shaft to the connection of the linkage arm with the crank arm;

a sprocket encircling and fixed to the jack shaft;

a sprocket encircling and fixed to the pivot axis of the first arm; and

a chain drivingly interconnecting the sprocket encircling and fixed to the jack shaft and the sprocket encircling and fixed to the pivot axis of the first arm.

4. Sampling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the respective pivot axes of the first and second arms are substantially parallel.

5. Sampling apparatus according to claim 1, further including means pivotally mounting the tare bucket on the second arm, whereby said bucket is adapted to be pivoted between an upright receiving position and a tipped dumping position.

6. Sampling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means pivotally mounting the tare bucket on the second arm includes stop means to limit the amount of pivoting of the bucket; and

a handle connected to said bucket, whereby rotation of said handle will move said bucket between its receiving and dumping positions.

7. Sampling apparatus according to claim 6, further including latch means adapted to hold said bucket inv its receiving position until the latch means is released and to allow unobstructed movement of the bucket from its dumping position to its receiving position.

8. Sampling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the latch means comprises a latch plate pivotally mounted on the second arm and including upper and lower curved portions forming a continuous cam surface; and

a cam follower carried by the handle connected to the bucket; said cam follower being positioned on said upper curved portion when the bucket is in its receiving position, whereby said latch plate prevents undesired rotation of the handle, and said lower curved portion engaging said cam follower when the bucket is in its dumping position, whereby said cam follower will travel on the lower curved portion to the upper cam portion as the handle is rotated to move the bucket from its dumping position to its receiving position.

9. In combination, a beet-piler including a screening apparatus and a discharge conveyor belt assembly for carrying beets discharged from the screening apparatus to a discharge point; and

sampling apparatus carried by said beet piler, said sampling apparatus including a first arm pivotally mounted at one of its ends to a pivot axis adapted to be fixed with respect to the beet piler;

a second arm;

means pivotally interconnecting the other end of the first arm to one end of the second arm so that the latter can rotate relative to the former;

a tare bucket carried by the other end of said second arm;

a non-reversible motor; and

means driven by said motor for oscillating said first arm about its pivot axis and for simultaneously rotating said second arm completely about the means pivotally interconnecting the first and second arms.

10. Sampling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the respective pivot axes of the first and second arms are substantially parallel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

S. C. SWISHER, Examiner. 

